Shoe bottom pressing machine



y 1938. A. E. JERRAM SHOE BOTTOM PRESSING MACHINE Filed April 21, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 y 1938. A. E. JERRAM SHOE BOTTOM PRESSING MACHINE Filed April 21, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 17, 1938. A, JERRAM 2,117,328

SHOE BOTTOM PRESSING MACHINE Filed April 21, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 WVIE A/ URL a y Patented May 17, 1938 SHOE BOTTOM PRESSING MACHINE Arthur Ernest Jerram, Leicester, England, as-

signor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Paterson, N. .L, a corporation of New Jersey Application April 21, 1937, Serial No. 138,200 In Great Britain May 15, 1936 9 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for shaping the bottoms of shoes and is herein illustrated as embodied in a machine of the type disclosed in Letters Patent of. the United States No. 1,275,562, granted August 13, 1918, upon an application of A. E. Jerram and J Gouldbourn, although it will be understood that the invention is not thus limited in its applicability.

Machines of the type illustrated in the abovementioned Letters Patent comprise in their organization a pressing form shaped to conform approximately but preferably not precisely to the desired lengthwise curvature of a shoe bottom, and a shoe support which is rocked relatively to the form in opposite directions about an axis extending laterally of the shoe and located substantially at the tread surface of the sole of a shoe on the support. The pressing form is moved toward the support to press upon the shoe by a carrier which maintains the form in pressureapplying position as the support is rocked relatively to the form, thus causing the shaping or leveling pressure to be applied progressively along the bottom of the shoe in directions lengthwise of the shoe. While such machines have been in successful commercial use for many years, it has been found in operating upon some kinds of shoes, especially womens shoes mounted on lasts designed to accommodate comparatively high heels, that it is sometimes difiicult to impart to the sole the desired transverse curvature particularly if there are irregularities in the sole, such as bunches caused by the unevenness of shoe materials between the outsole and the insole. The bottoms of such shoes usually have pronounced transverse curvatures so that any such irregularities tend to prevent the form from engaging the sole for its entire width in locations where the irregularities have developed in the sole and as a result the desired transverse curvature is not imparted to the sole in those locations. In operating upon shoes of this kind it has been found that by transferring the leveling pressure progressive- 1y to different portions of the sole successively in directions both lengthwise and widthwise of the shoe all portions of the shoe sole will be properly leveled regardless of such small irregularities as may exist in the sole. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide improved means for accomplishing that result. For the purpose in view the present invention, in one important aspect, provides novel means for imparting to the pressing form rocking movements in directions laterally of the shoe in the course of the leveling operation. In the construction shown the pressing form is secured to a segmental member which is mounted in the carrier for tipping movements about an axis extending lengthwise of the shoe and located approximately at the toe end and heel seat contacting faces of the form. For imparting to the segmental member its tipping movements about this axis there is provided a rotatable eccentric which is connected by means of a link to an upwardly extending arm on the segmental member. rocked laterally of the shoe by the tipping of the segmental member it is caused to apply substantial pressure at any one time to a portion only of the width of the sole but to transfer such pressure successively to different portions of the sole in directions widthwise of the shoe as the pressure is also applied progressively along the bottom of. the. shoe from the heel end forwardly to the toe end and from the toe end rearwardly to the heel end in response to the rocking movements of the shoe support. Preferably the rate of speed at which the segmental member is tipped in directions laterally of the shoe is different from the rate of speed at which the shoe support is rocked in directions lengthwise of the shoe to cause the pressing form to treat different portions of the shoe bottom widthwise of the shoe in successive rocking movements of the support, thus insuring that all portions of the shoe bottom will be properly leveled and that the desired transverse curvatures will be imparted to the sole.

The invention in its different novel aspects will now be more particularly described by reference to the accompanying drawings and thereafter pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a machine in which the present invention is embodied;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line II--II of Fig. l; and

Fig. 3 is a section on the line IIIIII of Fig. 2.

' Since the general organization of a machine of the type illustrated is fully shown and described in the prior Letters Patent above-mentioned, only such parts of the machine as it is necessary particularly to refer to for an understanding of the invention are herein shown and will be described in detail.

Machines of the type illustrated in the abovementioned Letters Patent are each provided with a pair of shoe supports or jacks Ill, l2 and cooperating pressing forms l4, [6 (Fig. 2). Each jack comprises a support l8 for an iron last or foot 20, the support l8 being slidably mounted in a carrier 22 supported by links 24, 26. Each sup- As the form is thus port [8 is seated on a collar 9 fast on the upper end of a rod II having formed on its opposite end a hexagon head for turning the rod. Surrounding the rod l I between a member I3 threaded on the rod and a member l5 engaging the head of the rod and a shoulder I? on the carrier is a stiff compression spring l9 against the resistance of which the support is depressible in response to pressure applied to the bottom of a shoe on the last 20. Each jack is swung about its pivotal connection with the link 24 from a substantially vertical work receiving position into an inclined leveling position and is connected independently to operating mechanism for rocking it about an axis extending widthwise of the shoe and located substantially in the tread surface of the sole to cause the leveling pressure to be applied progressively along the bottom of the shoe. The mechanism for rocking the jack comprises a bellcrank lever 2i pivotally connected at 23 to the machine frame 25 and having a pin and slot connection 27 with the link 26. The bell-crank lever 25 is swung in opposite directions to impart rocking movements to the jack through a'link 29 by cam-controlled means not herein shown since it is fully disclosed in the prior Letters Patent No. 1,275,562. The pressing forms l4, 16 which are shaped approximately to conform to the desired contour of the bottom of. a shoe are mounted in a manner more particularly hereinafter described on a carrier 28 which is fulcrumed at 30 to the machine frame 25. As each jack is moved from its Work receiving position into an inclined leveling position the carrier 28 is swung in a direction to move the cooperating pressing form heightwise of the shoe toward the jack by the straightening of a toggle lever 34 which is operated by suitable crank mechanism, not herein shown, since it is substantially the same as that shown in the prior Letters Patent above-mentioned. In the machine herein illustrated each jack may yield under excessive pressure against the resistance of the spring l9 (Fig. 1) as its cooperating form is moved into position to press the bottom of a shoe on the jack by the straightening of. the toggle lever 34. It will be understood that the pressing form remains in pressure-applying position during the rocking movements of the jack, thus causing what is substantially a direct pressure to be applied successively to limited areas of the sole progressively from the heel end forwardly to the toe end and from the toe end rearwardly to the heel end, after which at the end of the leveling operation the pressing form is moved out of engagement with the shoe as the jack is swung into work-receiving position. g;

For purposes of the present invention the illustrated machine is provided with means for im parting to the pressing forms rocking movements laterally of the shoe in the course of the leveling operation. In the construction shown, the forms I4, [6 are respectively secured to segmental members 36, 38 (Fig. 2) each of which is supported on the carrier 28 by flanged plates 40 fastened to the carrier by screws 42 (Fig. 3). Each segmental member has formed thereon an arcuate face 44 engaging roller bearings 46 housed in and spaced by cages 48 which are retained in place on the carrier by plates 50 secured to the carrier by screws 52. Preferably, the arcuate face 44 of each segmental member is concentric with a line or axis parallel to the longitudinal median line of its associated form, this axis being located approximately at the toe end and heel seat contacting faces of the form. The segmental members 36, 38 are provided respectively with arms 54, 56 which are connected at their upper ends by inwardly extending links 58, 60 to a shaft 62 having keyed thereto an eccentric bushing 64 which forms a bearing for the inner ends of the links 58, 60. The shaft 62 is mounted in suitable bearings in the carrier 28 in parallel relation to and intermediate between the axes of the segmental members 36, 38. For rotating the shaft 62 and the eccentric 54 to impart tipping movements laterally of the shoe to the segmental members 38, 38 to rock the forms l4, I6, there is fast to the shaft 62 a beveled gear 66, the teeth of which are engaged by the teeth of a beveled pinion 68 fast to the inner end of a shaft rotatably mounted in the carrier 28. Fast to the outer end of the shaft it is a gear 12 meshing with a pinion 14 fast to a shaft 16 rotatably mounted in the carrier 28 and having fast on its outer end a pulley 18 driven continuously through a belt 8i] by a motor 82 mounted on the frame 25 (Fig. 1). Preferably and as shown, the eccentricity of the bushing 64 is such as to cause the segmental members to be rocked laterally of the shoe through a comparatively small angle.

As previously explained, each segmental member is supported on the carrier by flanged plates 4 The plates 46 are each provided with a tongue 84 (Fig. 3) engaging an arcuate slot 86 formed in the end face of its associated segmental member concentric with the axis about which the segmental member is rocked laterally of the shoe. To support each segmental member against endwise thrust as its cooperating jack is rocked in directions lengthwise of the shoe there is provided a ball bearing 88 engaging the inner faces 96 of a pair of arcuate ribs 9| on the segmental member, the inner race 92 of the ball bearing being mounted on a stud 94 fast in the carrier 28.

From the above description it will be evident that as each jack is rocked in directions lengthwise of the shoe rocking movements laterally of the shoe are imparted to its associated pressing form. The pressing form is thus caused to press at any one time forcibly on a portion only of the width of the sole but to transfer its pressure successively to different portions of the sole Widthwise of the shoe as the leveling pressure is applied progressively along the bottom of the shoe from the heel end forwardly to the toe end and from the toe end rearwardly to the heel end. Preferably the number of rocking movements imparted to the pressing form should not be equal to or an exact multiple of the number of longitudinal rocking movements imparted to the jack in order that the path traced on the shoe sole by the sole pressing face of. the form will differ during successive longitudinal rocking movements of the jack. The pressing form is accordingly rocked at a different rate of speed from the rate of speed of rocking movement of the jack, the rate of speed of rocking movement of the form being such as to insure that all portions of the shoe bottom will be properly leveled. It will be understood that in operating upon shoes of different styles the number of rocking movements imparted to the form may be varied by varying its rate of speed as may be necessary to cause the leveling pressure to be applied to all portions of the bottom of the shoe being operated upon.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A machine for shaping or leveling the bottoms of shoes having, in combination, a solepressing form shaped to conform approximately to the desired lengthwise curvature of a shoe bottom and a shoe support relatively movable about different axes located approximately at the treadsurface of the sole of a shoe on said support to apply leveling pressure progressively to. different portions of the sole successively in directions both lengthwise and widthwise of the shoe.

2. A machine for shaping or leveling the bottoms of shoes having, in combination, a shoe support, a sole-pressing form shaped to conform approximately to the desired lengthwise curvature of a shoe bottom for applying pressure progressively to the sole of a shoe on said support lengthwise thereof between its toe and heel ends in response to rocking movements of said support relatively to said form, and mechanism for rocking the form laterally of the shoe to cause the form to apply substantial pressure at any one time on a portion only of the width of the sole but to transfer such pressure successively to different portions of the sole in directions widthwise of the shoe in the course of the rocking movement of the support.

3. In a machine for shaping or leveling the bottoms of shoes, the combination with a solepressing form shaped to conform approximately to the desired lengthwise curvature of a shoe bottom, and a shoe support movable relatively to said form about an axis extending widthwise of the shoe and located substantially at the tread surface of the sole of a shoe on said support to cause the form to press on different portions of the sole successively from the heel end forwardly to the toe end and from the toe end rearwardly to the heel end, of mechanism for rocking the form laterally of the shoe to transfer the leveling pressure progressively to different portions of the sole widthwise of the shoe in the course of the rocking movement of the support.

4. A machine for shaping or leveling the bottoms of shoes having, in combination, a shoe support, a sole-pressing form shaped to conform approximately to the desired lengthwise curvature of a shoe bottom for applying pressure progressively to different portions of the sole of a shoe on said support in response to rocking movements of said support relatively to the form about an axis extending widthwise of the shoe, and mechanism for moving the form relatively to said support into position to apply pressure to the shoe sole and for imparting to the form when in pressure-applying position a plurality of rocking movements laterally of the shoe about an axis extending lengthwise of the shoe.

5. In a machine for applying pressure to the bottoms of shoes, in combination, a shoe support, a sole-pressing form shaped to conform approximately to the desired lengthwise curvature of a shoe bottom for applying pressure progressively along the bottom of a shoe on said support in response to rocking movements of the support rela tively to the form in directions lengthwise of the shoe, a carrier movable heightwise of the shoe to press the form upon the shoe, and mechanism on said carrier for rocking the form laterally of the shoe to cause the form to press successively on different portions of the shoe bottom widthwise of the shoe.

6. In a machine for applying pressure to the bottoms of shoes, in combination, a shoe support, a so1e-pressing form for applying pressure progressively along the bottom of a shoe on said support in response to rocking movements of the support relatively to the form about an axis extending laterally of the shoe, a carrier movable heightwise of the shoe to press the form upon the shoe, said form being mounted on the carrier for rocking movements laterally of the shoe about an axis extending lengthwise of the shoe and located approximately at the toe end and heel seat faces of the form, and mechanism on said carrier for imparting to the sole-pressing form in the course of the leveling operation a plurality of rocking movements about said axis to cause the leveling pressure to be applied successively to different portions of the shoe sole widthwise of the shoe.

7. A machine for applying shaping or leveling pressure to the bottoms of shoes having, in combination, a shoe support, a form for applying pressure to the bottom of a shoe on said support, said form having a pressing face shaped to conform approximately to the desired contour of a shoe bottom, means for rocking the shoe support relatively to the pressing form at one rate of speed in directions lengthwise of the shoe to cause the leveling pressure to be applied progressively along the bottom of the shoe, and mechanism for rocking the form laterally of the shoe at a different rate of speed from the support to cause the form to treat difierent portions of the shoe bottom widthwise of the shoe in successive rocking movements of the support.

8. A machine for shaping or leveling the bottoms of shoes having, in combination, a shoe support, a sole-pressing form for applying pressure progressively along the bottom of a shoe on said support in response to rocking movements of the support in directions lengthwise of the shoe, and means for moving the form relatively to the support into pressure applying position and for imparting to the form rocking movements laterally of the shoe, said means comprising a segmental member, a carrier for moving the segmental member toward the shoe to press the form upon the shoe, said segmental member being mounted on said carrier for tipping movements about an axis extending lengthwise of the shoe and lo cated approximately at the toe end and heel seat contacting faces of the form, and a rotatable eccentric for imparting to the segmental member its tipping movements.

9. A machine for applying shaping or leveling pressure to the bottoms of shoes having, in combination, a shoe support, a pressing form shaped to conform approximately to the desired contour of a shoe bottom for applying leveling pressure progressively along the bottom of a shoe on said support in response to rocking movement of said support in directions lengthwise of the shoe, a carrier movable heightwise of the shoe for pressing the form upon the shoe, and means on the carrrier for supporting the form and for imparting to it rocking movements laterally of the shoe in the course of the leveling operation, said means comprising a member having an arcuate face concentric with an axis extending lengthwise of the shoe and located approximately at the toe end and heel seat contacting faces of the form, a rotatable eccentric connected to said member for imparting to the member tipping movements laterally of the shoe, and a plurality of rolls on the carrier for engaging said member and for guiding its movements about said axis.

ARTHUR ERNEST JERRAM. 

